Red Bull to buy a stake in Leeds United?

Controversial Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino says he has discussed selling a stake in the club to Red Bull but will not sell outright.

Reports in the Yorkshire Post suggest Red Bull values Leeds United at around £60m and, in addition to the Milton Keynes-based F1 team, already owns a number of football clubs including Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, Red Bull Leipzig in Germany and New York Red Bulls in the USA.

Cellino met with a Red Bull representative last week. However, the Italian does not want to relinquish control of a club he has owned for less than a year and is thought to only be interested in selling a minority stake in return for a cash injection.

Red Bull have also considered buying Newcastle United in the past, but have been put off by the asking price of more than £230m.

UPDATE:Red Bull have subsequently released statement, published in The Guardian, quashing the rumours:”We can confirm that Red Bull has no plans to take over Leeds United nor take a stake in the club.”

Massimo Cellino has also back-tracked on his earlier comments, saying via the Yorkshire Post: “I don’t know where they came from but they’re disrespectful to me and the supporters. I’m not selling the club.”